The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1887-01-20
REV. CALVIN H. WILEY, ID. d.
The Eloquent Comments of Mr.. II. II.
kingsbury on the Death of this Dis
tingufshed Carolinian.

From the Wilmington Star
The death of this eminent and gift
ed North Carolina is a genuine grief |
to this writer Since midsummer,
1910, we have knewn him Intimately.
He was born in Guilford county, was
graduated from the University, where
he bore off the first honors, and was
probably 68 years OF age. After leav-
ing Chapel Hill he settled at Oxford |
in 1910, and began the practice of the
law. He early asserted his fine abii-
ties, and before he was % he had a
widespread reputation in the State as
a writer In 1916, he published cal
amance, or the Great and Final Ex-
pertinent" his first novel, the scene of
which was laid in his native Carolina
We saw him day after day as he wrote
it, and although not more than six
teen or seventeen years old the story
was read to us as it was thrown off.
The first critical article we ever at
tempted was on that very novel, and
copy of it was filed by vote in the
archives of the Dialectic Society at
the University. This was long time
ago-in 1847 or 1848. The Harpers
published "Alamance," and it is still
in their list Of books. The preface to
the book is excellent, quite in the best
vein of the author. The book has
merit, and North Carolinions should
read it. nr. Wiley wrote one other
novel that was published. Its title we
have forgotten, but it is located in the
Albemarle section. 1t had more or
less to do with fugitive slave in the
Dismal Swamp, if our memory is not
treacherous, for it has been at least 35
years since we read it.
DIR. Wiley, about 1850, published
his "N orth Carolina Reader" work
not without faults, but of decided
merit nevertheless. 1t is the best book
of the kind the State has, and if prop
erly edited new edition would be a
genuine blessing. If some scholarly
man would take it, build on it, change
it here and there, it could be made an
excellent work for all the schools in
the State. DIR. Wiley also published
during the war good sized volume
of theology that Indicated very real
ability, especially as to thought.
: But he was best known, and Will
{ possibly be longest remembered, by his
I very useful and efficient labors as the
l first Superintendent of Public Instruc-
tion of North Carolina. His work in
behalf of the illiterate children of the
State deserves to be held in perpetual
remembrance. He was the author OF
: the system. To his energy, his origi-
mating and directing talents it was ow-
ing that the best common school svs-
l tenn of any Southern State was given
i to North Carolina. He was par ec
ccllence the ablest officer that ever
: filled this most important position In
scholarship, in natural ability, in gifts
as writer, in originality of thought
) in usefulness, he easily eclipsed them
) all, and was one of the best equipped
men in the State He richly deserve:
J a monument at the hands of the peo
pie of North Carolina, for he was s
: North Carolinian in every throb o
J heart, in every motive of life, and il
u every effort of usefulness.
Il When some forty years old he re
o tired from the bar and entered tn,
Presbyterian ministry. 1t was neveI
our privilege to hear him but once il
Il the pulpit. 1t was a superior sermon
fresh, original, thoughtful, spiritual
Is For nearly or quite twenty years h
Is served the American Bible Society
e first as their General Agent for Ten
n nessee, and then for some fourteen
e years for North Carolina 1t was il
e the power of the writer, in co-opera
y ton with the then State Senator JohI
q W Cunningham, of Person county t.
,Aduce the American Bible Society t
4 transfer DIR. Wiley to North Carolin:
u from Tennessee. Like most native
s. he loved his old State, and desiret
" above earthly things to return to it
r hills and fountains. He served faith
q fully and efficiently in this importan
lie field At last be sleeps the sleep O
+ the Just beneath its soil
n When young be edited he Oxfor,
e fercury- about 1S41-43- and mad
o it one of the sprightliest and mos
a readable of State papers of that time
= DIR. Wiley was very agreeable i'll SC
% cial life. He was simple, gentle. un
~ pretending, gracious, genial. He ha
Il a genuine fund of quiet humor, no
"a anecdotical, but spontaneous and in
s. nocent. He was guileless man, true
'r sincere, lovable. We kneeo the MAJ
n 7 and wore him always very near ou
l. heart. He married Miss Towles, @
!: Raleigh North Carolina cannot wei
N afford to lose such faithful son. l
IS is true he had reached comparative
s. ly advanced age, but his intellectual
powers were in their full strength an
g he was doing a noble work for Civil
IN zation and Christianity. We hav
&c known but few North Carolinians VIII